Recognizing Gout Symptoms

                

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The symptoms, and problems associated with gout affect a great many people. Although, it is rare in children and young adults, gout is still estimated to occur in approximately 840 out of every 100,000 people.

Adult men, between the ages of 40 and 50, are those most likely to develop gout. Adult women may also be affected, but rarely develop the disorder before menopause.

The symptoms of gout can be quite difficult for doctors to diagnose because they can be rather vague, and may often mimic other conditions. One of the conditions would be a joint infection. This can either be confirmed, or ruled out by checking for the presence of bacteria.

In order to confirm a diagnosis of gout, a doctor may draw a sample of synovial fluid (this substance lubricates the joint) through the use of a needle inserted into an inflamed joint. This fluid sample is then examined by a microscope with the technician looking for the presence of monosodium urate crystals. However, this is not totally conclusive. The absence of these crystals does not completely rule out the gout diagnosis. Additional gout testing may include the examining of the chalky, sodium urate deposits (tophi) located around the joints.

Common Gout Symptoms

* Severe pain in the area of a joint.

* The presence of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid.

* Multiple attacks of acute arthritis.

* A swollen, red, and warm joint that developed arthritis in one day.

* Hyperuricemia (a high level of uric acid in the blood).

* Arthritis attacks effecting only one joint, usually a knee, ankle, or toe. This is referred to as Monoarticular Gout, and 60% of the time will turn up in the big toe.

* Symptoms in the elderly will usually occur in the joints of the upper extremities; especially in the fingers. These gout symptoms will occur in multiple joints, and are referred to as Polyarticular Gout.

* Additional associated symptoms of gout may include, fever, chills, and a loss of appetite.

Should you be diagnosed with gout, it will be very important for you to take any prescribed medication regularly, adhere to any lifestyle changes that you have been advised to make, follow the necessary dietary changes, and maintain a healthy weight.

Recognizing gout symptoms, and controlling the condition will greatly enhance ones quality of life.

Copyright &copy2007 Carl DiNello

Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internet's most popular topics.

To read more on this topic, please visit Natural Gout Treatments!

You may republish this article on your website, or e-zine so long as none of the content, or author information has been edited or changed in any way, and all links are left active and unchanged.

Diets That Help Control Gout

                

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Gout is a disease that affects body joints, especially the ones from the extremities. Gout means a high production of uric acid that can not be eliminated. Uric acid is a waste product of the body that occurs when certain types of foods are eaten. With the help of the kidneys the body eliminates the uric acid. Though, the surplus that can not be eliminated will deposit in joints or soft tissues. That explains why the most affected parts of the body are the joints, particularly the big toe, the feet, the ankles, the arms and hands.

Since the ancient times gout was considered as a disease caused by diets. Gout is the result of excessive consumption of foods and alcohol, and may occur if high purine foods are eaten regularly. Alcohol drank regularly may also lead to gout. Usually men around 40 catch this disease. They represent a high percentage of the patients. Women are not at risk such as men. In most of the cases women develop gout at menopause, around the age of 50.

Nowadays we have the certitude that gout is a disease that is strictly connected to several factors such as diet, alcohol intake or high doses of medication.

For avoiding gout, people should limit the intake of foods high in purine because purine creates uric acid. Most of the foods of animal origin contain purine. These foods are not restricted but a moderate consumption is recommended. Also recommended are the vegetables especially those with apigenin but other flavonoids too. Apigenin is found in vegetables like parsley, thyme and peppermint. Because of the chemicals they contain, black berries are also recommended for people with gout.

Years ago specialists believed that high purine vegetables such as peas, spinach, mushrooms or asparagus affect the human body and may lead to gout. Now our specialists know that these vegetables are unable to increase the risk of gout.

It is recommended for patients to be informed about the diet that they should follow in order to control gout. They should know that the source of body protein should not be meats as before and they should rely on low-fat diary products and soy. They should also give up consuming high fat products and should figure out a way to replace them. Beer should be avoided because is the main cause of developing gout. Patients with gout also need to stay hydrated so at least 8 cups of fluid a day is necessary.

For more information about gout treatments please review http://www.gout-info-center.com/gout-symptoms.htm%3c/a> or even http://www.gout-info-center.com/gout-treatments.htm

What Are The Common Signs Symptoms Gout Causes?

                

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Though the crystallization of uric acid in the joints is the cause of gout, it is not something that will be obvious right away. The signs and symptoms may or may not show up for years before pain is felt. There are some signs symptoms gout sufferers might experience that might not be thought of as part of this condition right away, and are often related to a painful flare up.

Gout may not be diagnosed until flare up occurs. Many times they will show up and be confused with something else before more telling signs show, and a doctor then might know to look for gout.

When a gout flare up is about to occur, a person might have a wide range of symptoms. These are common to may different conditions, and someone with these might think they are getting the flu or are just feeling under the weather.

Some people have similar feelings after eating or drinking too much of the wrong things, and they may just think the feelings are a result of that. They may experience dehydration and may have had an injury in a joint area. Surgery or stress can bring about a flare up, so if someone has just experienced either, they should look for the secondary signs.

Right before the flare up occurs, a patient will notice something is going on up to twenty-four hours before the pain sets in. Having a fever is very common, and this might also come with having the chills. The chills are often a direct result of fever, as the body is too hot and the air feels cooler on the skin. The problem with this is that those symptoms can mean almost anything, and they might not be attributed to a gout flare up until a person knows that they do indeed have gout.

When someone goes to see a doctor about gout, there are specific things they will look for. Some of these things might be evident to the patient as well, but they may not know what they mean. A doctor will test for high levels of uric acid and the crystals that they form. This is a blood test. These crystals might then be located in the joints, and this is most common in the big toe. There will be tenderness around any joints that are involved, and there may be skin problems. Movement of involved joints may very well be painful.

A patient will know they are having a gout attack when they feel pain in the affected joints. This might be very severe pain that is accompanied by stiffness. The joint might feel hot to the touch and extremely tender.

When the signs symptoms gout produces appear, and it is obvious a flare up is occurring, a person should lie down and rest as much as possible. It is important to keep weight off of the joint. Ice or heat might help with the pain, and something like ibuprofen can be taken for inflammation. Once someone is sure they are experiencing a bout of gout, they should call their doctor for advice and the possibility of a prescription if needed.

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Understanding Gout Symptoms And Solutions You Can Really Use

                

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Gout is on the increase, but most people don't realize that it's a form of arthritis. When people are told this they can often get annoyed with the suggestion that they have arthritis, especially if they are on the young side ? Assuming that only more mature people get arthritis.

Proportionally gout effects more men than women, and women who are effected by it, most are post menopausal.

Gout is caused by an excess of uric acid in the body, which leads to a state called hyperuricemia. This condition is not dangerous in itself, however the knock on effects of the excess uric acid can cause health problems.

Uric acid build up can be caused by a number of factors. I can be a hereditary condition whereby the body doesn't process uric acid efficiently, or it could be simply that too much uric acid is being produced.

There are four stages to gout, during the first stage sufferers are unaware that they have gout as it involves the increase of uric acid in the blood without any physical symptoms.

The second stage is when the first gout attack happens. Gout attacks can come on extremely suddenly, even overnight. The effected joint becomes hot, swollen, red and painful. Gout usually strikes at the joints in the foot and ankle, most commonly the big toe. During this stage sufferers can become incapacitated, as often the joint is too painful to walk on.

The third stage is where sufferers have symptom free periods between gout attacks. It is common to have a second gout flare-up within 6 - 24 months of the first attack. It is important to seek treatment during this stage to reduce gout attacks, as the final stage of gout is serious.

The fourth stage is the chronic stage and involves consistently swollen sore joints, with sores developing on the skin over the joints. These can leak whitish pus. Mobility is often impaired too due to stiffness and pain. Most cases of gout do not develop this stage. To avoid any long term problems take a look at the natural solutions that you can implement right now:

Lose Weight
If you are overweight, losing the extra pounds can help to reduce the amount of uric acid produced by the body. Avoid the popular low-carb diets as these encourage a high consumption of protein, which will increase uric acid production.

Keep Hydrated
Drinking at least 6 - 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day will help to dilute the uric acid in the body, allowing the kidneys to process and expel it more easily. Limit your alcohol intake, as alcohol, especially beer, will raise your uric acid levels.

Gout Friendly Diet
Uric acid is produced naturally by the body from the breakdown of purine. Purines are found in a lot of our foods and especially protein. Following a gout-friendly diet involves avoiding foods that are high in purine and swapping these for moderate or low purine foods. Find out what not to eat by signing up to our free newsletter.

Understanding gout symptoms and solutions means that you will know what steps to take to avoid having another gout attack.

By Lisa McDowell. Sign up for a free newsletter & discover more about gout symptoms and solutions. Discover simple lifestyle changes that get rid of gout

Cherry Juice and Gout

                

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Long known for their gorgeous bright red color, Tart Cherries are now found to be much, much more than simply a tart and delicious fruit.

The relief gout sufferers have noticed upon drinking ?Gout Cherry Juice? has been recorded, and some have even been able to come off of all their medications because of the great changes. The pain associated with gout is a constant menace to those afflicted. Medication is available, and helps, but as with any medication-- there are side effects. For those sufferers willing to change their diet, ?Gout Cherry Juice? can reduce many side effects and do away with them completely in many circumstances.

?Gout Cherry Juice? is made from Tart Cherries, which contain anthocyanins and flavonoids. These naturally occurring ingredients are what appears to be helping out the gout patients.

Gout is an affliction usually associated with men over the age of 40, and is a type of arthritis that involves uric acid concentration. Uric acid is a byproduct of the liver process; you need a certain amount of it in your bloodstream. When high concentrations occur, needlelike crystals of monosodium urate form in the bloodstream settling in the joints causing inflammation and pain, which are all symptoms of gout.

Many gout sufferers have been drinking ?Gout Cherry Juice? and have so far been reporting amazing results. It seems that drinking ?Gout Cherry Juice? on a daily basis has kept numerous sufferers free from attacks. Also, comments from those who have not had daily intakes of the juice have claimed that when an attack starts if they begin to drink the juice, they will immediately notice a reduction in the length of the attack, as well as a great change in the severity of the attacks. These results typically convince them to begin drinking the juice every day.

Scientists are now beginning to explore the effects of anthocyanins and flavonoids on uric acid production. The Medical Universities are putting out more concrete evidence continually, concerning the health benefits associated with these Tart Cherries. ?Gout Cherry Juice? is made from these Tart Cherries, and the comments from users are showing that the benefits drawn from the juice can relieve the pain and inflammation associated with gout, pleasing many people who are afflicted with the disease. It is always recommended to check with your doctor before discontinuing medication, or making large changes in your diet.

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Simple Home Remedies for Gout Sufferers

                

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Most people have heard of gout, but I suspect many don't know what it really is. Simply put, gout is a disease caused by excessive levels of uric acid in the blood-stream (hyperuricemia). Not everyone who has high levels of this acid their blood develops gout disease, but it does seem most do. Specifically, gout occurs when uric-acid crystals form around body joints like knees, fingers, elbows and especially big toes - in fact, for the vast majority of gout sufferers, the first sign of the disease is big toe pain! After salt-like crystals form, inflammation, tenderness, and even a reddish rash may occur around affected joints.

The disease has been noted and documented since the time of Hippocrates. Traditionally, it's been associated with exuberant living - eating and drinking well. And there is some indirect evidence to support this. For example, a long-term study noted that heavy consumers of meat and sea food were much more likely to develop gout. Additionally, significant alcohol consumption, especially in the form of beer, is also known to increase the risk of gout development.

Below are simple home remedies that may help to relieve pain and other symptoms linked to this sometimes debilitating disease. It's unlikely they will all work for or apply to you, so it may be worth experimenting with different remedies to find the ones that personally help alleviate your symptoms.

* An old study supported by a recent one and significant amount of anecdotal stories suggest drinking cherry juice may help alleviate pain caused by uric-acid crystal formation.

* Soaking the affected joint or joints in warm water, or having a warm bath, may also help.

* Drinking plenty of water may help eliminate uric acid from the body.

* Cutting back on alcohol and meat (especially red) consumption should reduce the level of digestive purines from which uric acid is formed.

* If you're overweight, slowly losing weight may also help.

* A recent study suggested taking vitamin C supplements may reduce the risk of gout attacks, so this is worth considering too.

These are just some simple remedies that may help curb gout attacks. Visit my website: www.gout-diet-tips.com for many more ideas.

Brad Watson is a freelance author, programmer and website-master. He loves researching and writing about simple ways to alleviate symptoms of many common disorders and diseases. To learn more about gout visit: www.gout-diet-tips.com